Loose-leaf binder



July 5, 1932. J. L. M MILLAN LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed 0d. 15, 1928 4Sheets-sheet. 1

I NYE/v70)? flTTOR/VEYS July 5, 1932. J, MCMILLAN 1,866,050

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Oct. 15, 1928 4She tsSh et 2 PT. In 4 30 Mn d .4J I mun? Z7 a l \h\\\\\\\\\\\\l\\\Y N- a 1 as I Q I; i 4

o i /IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII J. L. M MILLAN LOOSE LEAFBINDER Jul 5, 1932.

Filed Oct. 13, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ML I/vms/vrw? By m W /Illllf! a"7/1 III III/AI the sheets wardly Patented July 5, 1932 me s'rarssPATEN'T j JOHN MCIVIILLAN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW .YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 MCMILLANBOOK COM OFFICE rANY, or srnacrrsn, nnw Yon-K, A conronn'rron or newYORK Loose-LEAF BINDER Applicationfiled October 13,1923. Serial in.312,273.

This invention relates to a new and improved loose leaf binder in whichthe sheets are retained in position on prongs or arcuate posts.

In using loose leaf binders it is frequently desirable that the leavesin the binder be disposed in such a way that they themselves willconstitute a visible index. When a binder is being used for this purposethe length of in the binder is usually considerably less than the heightof the binder so that the leaves may be positioned in the binder inoverlapping relation, leaving a portion of each sheet exposed to view sothatany indicia thereon may be visible when the binder is open. 7 i c ahen binder is being used as a visible index record for certain classesortypesof accounts it isfrequently necessary to insert or remove one ormore of the sheets from the binder, when, for example, it is desired toadd a record sheet orwhen the particular account represented by a sheetor sheets has been closed or whenit is desired totransfer record sheetsto anotherbinder. When this occurs it is often desirable to place'newsheets,

in the binder either in proper alphabetical order or atthe bottom of thebinder or elsewhere, and in order to do-this it is necessary that one ormore of the sheets in the binder shall be moved either upwardly ordownto provide a space for the new sheets. In order to accomplish suchtransfer of sheets it is very desirable that some means be providedwhereby one or moresheets may be moved vertically from one set of prongsi to another set of prongs in one operation and without actual removalof the sheets from the prongs.- a

v As a newiand improved way in which sheets may be transferredvertically from-v one set of prongs to another set ofprongs I havediscovered ried on the other part of the back member the back member ofthe binder, suchparts of being hinged together so that the opposed setswhen; the binder was in the closed of prongs is direction in relation tothe other set of prongs that such a result may be most quickly and mosteasily accomplished? of prongs may be moved towards and from I I eachother as desired. I have further discoveredthat with this arrangement ofprongs the vertical transfer'of sheets in the binder may be bestaccomplished if a means is provided whereby one of the sets of prongsmay be moved angularly inatransversedirection with respect to theopposing set of prongs.

For use with such a binder I'p'rovide sheets which carry on onelongitudinal edge a series it Wm be obliolls' t at a sheet may b fromoneside ofthe binder to the other side: of the binder, ,theyprongs ofthe binder. at all times remaining in thesame apertures in the sheet inwhich they were initially placed.

If the two parts of theiback member of the binder are openedor rockedapart on their a hinged connection to such an e t-entthat theopposedset's of end portions inoverlapping relationso that one setofprongs will have been withdrawn from the apertures in the sheet, and asheet, is moved from the set of prongs on which it is positioned to theopposing set of prongs, the prongs which were withdrawn from theapertures in same apertures in which they'were positioned position,

prongs will have merely their the sheet will again enter the" If,however, when the opposedsets of prongs relation as just described, oneof the sets ping moved-angularly in a transverse have merely their endportions in overlapso as to shift the endportions longitudinally of thehinge a distance'equal tothe space be-- tweentwo apertures in a recordsheet and a sheet is moved onto the prongs which are in such angularrelation fromthe opposing set of prongs which remain ,inthenormal posi-'tion, such sheet will'bemoved diagonally of the binder so that when theprongs which;

were removed from the apertures in the sheet againenter apertures in thesheet theywill c 60. of apertures so spaced as to permit theen Vleavesfrom one set of armi s to the other ooh not enter the apertures inwhich they were formerly positioned but will enter apertures adjacentthereto, with the result that the sheet will have moved vertically inthe binder. When the prongs which were moved angularly are returned tothe normal position and the binder closed, the sheet which was thustransferred will have changed its vertical position in the binder.

The main object of my invention is to provide a means whereby opposedsets of prongs in a binder may be so moved in relation to each otherthat when a sheet is transferred from one set of prongs to another setof prongs its vertical position in the binder will be changed by suchtransfer.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means which will permitsuch transfer of a sheet but which will accomplish this result in such away that the sheetbeing transferred willat all times have prongsextending through apertures in such sheet.

Inusing binders of this type where the relative position of" one set ofprongs is changed in relation to the other set of prongs temporarilywhile the leaves are being transferred from one set of prongs to anotherit frequently happens that the person using the binder willattempttoclose the same before the movable set of prongs has been returned to itsnormal position with the result that the ends of the" prongs will strikethe leaves in the binder. with resulting damage to the leaves, andanother object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the movableprongs will be automatically returned to their normal position when thebinder is closed so that it will be impossible for the person using thebinder to close the same with the prongs out of the normal position. 7

Further I have found that it is desirable to provide a means for'lockingor holding the back members in three distinct relative positions aboutthe connecting hinge, namely, when the binder is closed, when it is inthe intermediate position with the ends of the prongs overlapping topermit trans-fer of set of prongs, and when it is in the open positionto permitleaves to be inserted on or withdrawn from the prongs.Therefore, to facilitate manipulation of the binder I have provided ameans whereby when the binder is initially unlocked and the opposed setsof prongs moved away from each other they will be automatically lockedin the second or intermediate position without attention from theoperator, such means permitting further opening of the binder only afterthe operator as again tripped'the latch to permit the further opening ofthe binder to the third or open position in which position it will beautomatically locked, To facilitate the clo i ing of the binder mylocking means is so designedthat the binder may be closed frombrokenaway, of my diate position and with one set of prongs in the pivotedposition usually have their backs covered by leather,

canvas or other material. In use such binders are usually placed on atable or desk and when it isdesired to move such abinder on a table ordesk or whenit is desired to unlock the binder and move the sets ofprongs in relation to each other the friction between the back of thebinder and the table or desk is such that it makes the manipulation ormoving of the binder difficult and another object of my invention is toprovide a means which will permit the binder to be moved on a tableor'desk and to be opened and closed with the minimum of friction betweenit and the table or desk thus rendering more easy the use of the binder.

Other objects and advantages relate to the size,shape and arrangement ofparts all as will more fully appear from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is aperspective view partially broken away of my binder in aclosed position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of my binder with the covers partiallybrokenaway and with the pro-ngs in the closed position.

Figure 8 isa top plan view partially broken away andparti-allyin'section of my binder with'the prongs in the intermediate position.Figure 4 is a section on line H of F igure 7. Y I y Figure 5 is anenlarged view partially broken away of one end of the sectional viewshown in Figure 7.

Figure 6 is-a section on line 66 of ure 7.

Figure 7 is a sectionon line 7-7 of Figure 9.

Figure 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig ure 3'. p

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a section on line 10l0 of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a section on line 11l1 of Figure 5;

Figure 12 is a top plan view, partially broken away, of my binder in theintermediate position showing three leaves in position V on prongs.

Figure 13 is a top plan view, partially binder in the interme andtheother set of prongs in the normal positiomone loose leaf being inposition on the pivoted prongs and two leaves in position on the opposedprongs.

Referringto Figurel, my binder 1 comprises opposed rear housings 2 and 3hingedly connected together as by a piano hinge 4. A cover 5 is hingedlyconnected to housing 2 as by a piano hinge 6 and a cover 7 is similarlyhingedly connected to housing 3 as by a piano hinge 8 as shown in Figure2. Housing 2 has rollers 9and 1O journaled in spaced relation in itsoutside longitudinal edge, rollers 9 and 10 extending outwardly fromhousing 2 so that when the binder 1 i in position on a table ordesk itwill be sup ported on rollers 9 and 10 and housing 2 will be held inspaced relation from such desk or table. Housing 3 is similarlyconstructed with rollers 11 and 12 journaled therein to hold housing 3in spaced relation to a supporting desk or table. As shown, housings 2and 3 are preferably rectangular in cross-section, housing 2 carryingend plates 13 and 14 and housing 3 carrying end plates 15 and 16. Endplate 16 is provided with a superposed frame member 17 for the receptionof a card carrying any desired. indicia. Housing 3 is provided withaplurality, in this case shown as eleven, of arcuate' prongs 18 in spacedrelationwhich extend upwardly from the outer longitudinal edge of topplate 19. The lower portions of prongs 1.8 extend inwardly toward theinner longitudinal edge of housing 3 and have their inner ends bentvertically to enter apertures in a locking plate 20 fixed in housing 3to hold prongs 18 from any relative movement withrespect to themselvesor to'housing 3.

As perhaps may best be seen from Figures 7 and 8 a rod 21 is positionedadjacent the inner longitudinal edge of housing 3 and has rotatablymounted thereon a pair of arcuate notched latches 22 and 23, latches 22and 23 extending through slots 24 and 25 into housing 2 for a purposehereinafter to be described. Rod 21 also carries at approximately themidpoint thereof a cam plate 26 arcuate in shape and which extends intohousing 2 through a slot 27 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.Top plate 19 of housing 3 is provided on its outer longitudinal edge,see Figure 3, with aplurality, in this case shown as ten, of apertures28 in spaced 1 relation and positioned between'prongs 18.

Housing 2 is provided with a plurality, in this case shown as ten, ofarcuate prongs -29 which extend downwardly through top plate 30 ofhousing 2 and are rotatably I mounted in sleeves 3131 affixed to theinner ends bent upwardly and extending through apertures in a slidableplate 32 so that the movement of plate 32 longitudinally of housing 2will cause the inner ends of prongs 29 to also-"be moved longitudinallyof housing 3. ".2 with the result that prongs 29 will be pivoted insleeves 31 to cause simultaneous longitudinal movement of the upper endsof prongs on plate 32 by means of a pivot pin 34 which extends upwardlythrough a slot35 in top plate 30 of housing 2 jOne end of bellcrank 33is provided with a knob 36 and the other end of bellcrank-33 is formedwith a U-slot in registration with a headed pin 37 fixed in topiplate 30so that when bellcrank 30 is moved about its pivot3t the, end ofbellcrank 33 carrying the Uslot will be held against longitudinalmovement with respect to housing 2 with the result that plate 32 will bemoved longitudinally of housing" 2 in a direction dependingupon thedirection of rotation of bell-crank 33.

- Prongs 29 are positioned, in their normal position, in staggeredrelation to prongs 18 so thatwhen the binder is. in the closed posi tionprongs 29 will be positioned between adjacent prongs 18 with their outerends inregistration with apertures 28 in topplate19. Similarly prongs 18will be positioned be tween adjacent prongs29 with their outer endsinvregistration with apertures 38 which are provided in top plate 30'fortheir reception. V i

As perhaps may best be seen from Figures 3' and 4 plate 32 isprovided'onits central portion'with a pair of spaced verticallyextending lugs 39 which when the binder, is in the closed positionreceive between them the 26. When plate 32 is in position with a lug 39contacting with the narrow portion 40 of cam plate 26 the prongs 29 willbe in the pivoted or transferring position. When the parts are in thisrelative position and the binder is closed by moving the housings 2 and3 towards each other on hinge 4 the cam plate 26 will be moved forwardlybetween lugs 39 withthe result that the lug .39 which is in contact withthe narrow portion 40 of cam plate 26will move from the narrow portion40 vtowards and on to the main body of cam plate 26 carrying withitplate 32 which in turn will cause the pivotal movement of prongs 29 totheir normal position. To assist in expediting the movement of prongs 29from the pivoted to the normal position I provide, see Figures 3 and 7an arm 41 which has one end pivotally mounted in housing2 by means of astation'ary pin 42 and which has its other end spring-pressed, 'by meansof and 46 respectively which notches 45 and spiral spring 44 which isinterposed between arm 41 and the outer slde of housmg 2, toward thevertical portion of a prong 29 winch extends upwardly to plate 32. Theend of arm 41 which is in registration with the prong 29 isprovlded'witha U-slot 43 in whlch prong 29 is received when prong 29 isin the normal position. When the plate 32 has been moved longitudinallyof housing 2 to cause the pivoting ot'prongs 29 the portion of the prong29 which is in the U-slot 43 of arm 41 will be moved out from suchU-slot 43 into registration with a portion of arm 41 adjacent prong 29;such movement being permitted because 1 of the fact that the arm 41 willbe moved U-slot 43 and the action of the spring 44 which tends to forcearm 41 against prong 29 will accelerate the movement of prong 29 to thebot-tom or" slot 43 and in consequence will accelerate the longitudinalmovement of plate 32.

For the purpose of locking the housings 2 and 3 in selectedpositions inrelation to each other I provide "latches 22 and 23 with a plu rality,in this case shown as three, of notches 46 are adapted to be engaged bya slidable plate 47 adapted to be moved into and out tudinally inhousing 2 for the purpose of reof engagement with notches 45 and 46 byits longitudinal movement in housing 2. For the purpose of holding plate47 normally in engagement with notches 45 and 46 I provide a spring 48having one end attached to plate and the other end atiixed to housing 2.

F or the purpose of moving plate 47 longileasing latches 22 and 23 sothat housings 2' and 3 may be moved in relation to each other I providean unlatching means which, as perhaps may best be seen from the enlargedView 3 shown in Figure 5, consists of a bellcrank 49 pivotally mountedin housing 2 by means of a pivot pin 50. A slot 51 is provided inbellcrank 49 in which slot is positioned a fined pin 52 for the purposeof limiting the movement of b-ellcranlr 49 about its pivot by contact ofthe pin 52 withthe ends of slot 51.

A second bellcrank 53 is pivotally mounted on bellcrank 49 normallyhaving one end overlying slot 51 and the other end extend- -inglaterally from bellcrank 49 into a slot 54 in plate 47.. Bellcrank 53 isyieldingly held in this position by means of a spiral sprin 55interposed between the inner end of bellcrank 53 and the. upper end ofbells I crank 49-, bellc'rank 49 having its upper end of-a hook shape asar to function as an anchor for one end of spring 55. I also provide aspiral spring 55 having one end fixed by a pin 56 'to housing 2 andhaving its other end engaged with a hook-like projection b provided onbellcrank 49 for the purpose of yieldingly holding bellcrank 49 in aposition permitting the entrance of one end of bellcrank 53 into slot 54of plate 47. I also provide on bellcrank 49 an upwardly extending tab 57to permit the manual totation' of bell-crank 49 about its pivot 50, tab57 extending upwardly through a slot in cover 3'0 01": housing 2.

When the binder is in the closed position and it is desired to open thesame the relation of the parts just described is such that whenbellcrank 49 is moved about its pivot 50 one arm of bellcrank 53 willengage an end of slot 54 of plate 47 and the further pivoting ofbellcrank 49 will cause bellcrank 53 to move plate 47 longitudinally ofhousing 2 to withdraw plate 47 from the first notches 45 and 46 inlatches 22 and 23 which will permit latches 22 and 23 to move outwardly.through slots 24 and 25'. The position of bellcrank 53 onbellcrank 49is such that a portion of one arm ofbellcrank 53 overlies slot 51 sothat a. further pivoting of bellcrank 49 will cause one arm or"bellcrank 53 to contact-with pin 52 and cause bellcrank 53' to pivot onbellcrank 49 thereby withdrawing the end ofbellcrank 53 which was.positioned in slot 54 from such slot to permit the return movement ofplate 47, such return movement being caused by the action of spring 48.The position of parts Wlll then be as shown in dottedlin'es on Figure5-. A further opening of the binder will'bring into registration withplate 47 the second notches 45 and 46' in latches 22 and 23 so that thebinder will be then automatically locked in the second or intermediateposition. If it is desired to open the binder still further it will benecessary to again rotate bellcrank 49 in the manner just described tomove plate 47 in relation to housing 2 to release it from the notches 45and 46 wit-h which it is engaged. r I 'Vhen the binder is in the openposit-ion and it is desired to close the same it is not neces sary to'manipulate bellcrank 49 because of the fact that the intermediate andouter notches 45 and, 46 have one oftheir sides inclined in each casewith the result that the movement of housings 2 and 3 towards each endof housing 3, as perhaps may best be seen from Figure 9', a bellcrank 58pivotally mounted tooneend of housing 3 by pivot pin position-on prongs18-18.

59 and having one end extending outwardly through a slot in cover 19 ofhousing 2 and having pivot'ally mounted on its otherend a pusher bar 60adapted,,when bellcrank 58 is moved about the pivot 59, to moveoutwardly through a slot 61 in housing 3 and contact with the sideof'housing 2 to force housings 2 and 3 a part. hen housings2 and 3 arereturned to the closed position housing 2 will contact with pusher bar60 to force it inside of housing 3 thus causingbellcrank 58 to be movedabout its pivot 59and returned to its normal position. I V

The relation of parts is such that when slide 47 is positioned in thefirst notch 15 of latch 22 and the corresponding. notch 46 of latch 23the housings 2 and 3 will be in the closed position as shown in Figures2 and 9 with the ends of prongs 18 in apertures 38 and with the ends ofprongs 29 in apertures 28. When the binder is in the transferringposition slide 4-7 will be in the intermediate notches 45 and 46 oflatches 22 and 23 respectively to hold housings 2 and 3 in the relativeposition shown in Figures .3 and 8 in which position the ends of prongs18 slightly overlap the ends of the opposing prongs 29.

When the binder is in this position bellcrank 33 maybepivoted tocause'the pivotal movement of prongs 29 and the relation of parts issuch thatwhen the pivotal movement of prongs 29 has been effected theends of the prongs 29 will have been moved long'itudinally of housing 2to a position mldway between the normal positionof the. ends of prongs29 and the position of the ends of adjacent prongs 18. In Figure 3 Ihave shown prongs 18 and19 inthe normal position in full lines and Ihaveshown the position of prongs 29, after their rotation has beeneffected, in dotted lines. It will be understood that altho I have shownin Figure 3 by dotted lines the position of prongs 29 after they havebeen pivoted in one direction 45 that such prongs may, if desired,bepivoted in the opposite direction the same distance from their normalposition. That is to'say, the ends of prongs 29 may as desired be movedtowards either one of the two prongs '18 between which they arepositioned.

For the purpose of explaining the opera.- tion of my device and the wayin which the vertical movement of a leaf in the binder is accomplished Ihave shown in Figure 12 my "binder in the intermediate position with theprongs 29 in their normal position substantially parallel with prongs 18and I have shown in position ,on prongs 18 three loose leaves 62, 63 and64c, and in Figure 13 I have shown my binder in such intermediatepositionwith the prongs 29 shifted angularly in one direction and withleaf 62 after has been transferred from. prongs 18-18. to prongs 29-29,leaves 63 and 64 remaining in apertures in Iieferring to Figure 12, ifleaf 62 be moved from prongs 18-18 to prongs 29-29 and the binder isthen closed, the leaves 62, 63 and 64 will not have changed theirvertical position in relation to the binder because of the fact thatwhen the bookis closed prongs. 29-29 will enter the same apertures inthe leaves 62, 63 and 64 in which they were positicnedbefore'the binderwas opened. That is to say,prong 29 will enter aperture -cu 1 99.1 62. 7P1" age 29-29 being operatively connected together, an explanation ofthe cooperating movements of an individual prongv 29' with the eaf 62will explain the operasheets. the position of which is to be changed,-

are placed on prongs 18-18 as shown in F gure 12. The prongs 29-29 arethen shifted angularly about their stationary pivots to the positionshown in Figure 13 and.

the sheet to be transferred, as sheet 62, is moved fromprongs 18 ontoprongs 29-29.

Prongs 29-29 being in the shifted position during such movement of leaf62, prong 29 will not, as just described, enter aperture -(2- in leaf 62but willenter the next adjacent aperture -d-, the prongs 29 entering,apertures next adjacent to the apertures .inv

which theyfwere formerly positioned- When.

the prongs 29-29 have been moved back to the normal position or when thebinder is closed the leaf 62 will have been moved vertically in thebinder because of the fact that prongs 18-18 and 29-29 will then bepositioned inap'ertures in leaf 62 adjacentto the which they wereformerly positioned.

In Figure 13 I have shown in heavy lines prongs 29-29 shiftedlinonedirection and .I have shown in dotted lines such prongs shiftedangularlyin the opposite direction.

If leaf 62 were moved from prongs 18-18 to prongs 29-29., when thelatter were in the position indicated by such dotted lines, prong 29would enter aperture -ein leaf 62 with the result that the verticalmovement of leaf 62 would be in a direction opposite-to v the directionin whichithad been moved when prong 29 was in a position to enter Thatis to say, the direcaperture -(Z-.

leaf 62 may tion of the vertical movement of be changed as desired.

Although the prongs are rocked or angu lalrly shifted about a stationaryaxis, the preferred movement being the distance between .the centers oftwo adjacent openings in a 'recordfsheet, the angle of movement is sosmall that the ends of the prongs are shifted substantiallylongitudinally ofthe hingefor the back members or vertically of the bookand their inclination is not suflicient to obstruct in any way thetransfer of sheets from the stationary prongs to the shiftable prongs,when the latter are angularly shifted in either direction fromnormalposition, or vice'versa. It will be understood that the materials'ofwhich my device are constructed maybe varied as desired as may be theexact position and relation of the various parts thereof withoutdeparting from the spirit of my in vention, for although I have shownand de-v scribed a specific structure and form of part as anexemplification of an embodiment of my invention I do not desire torestrict myw self to the exact size, shape or arrangement of parts asvarious changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a device of the class described, opposed housingshingedly connected together, i a plurality of prongs positioned in onehousing, a plurality of prongs mounted on vertical pivotal axes in theother housing and joined together for simultaneous movement, said prongsbeing normally in parallel relation to the first-named prongs, means forsimultaneously pivoting the last-named prongs about said axes, and meansactuated by movement of the housings in relation to ac-each other formoving the pivoted prongs to their normal positions.

2.. In a device of the class described, op-

V posed housin s hingedly connected together,

a plurality o prongs positioned in one housing, a plurality of prongsmounted on vertical pivotal axes in the other housing and joinedtogether for simultaneous movement, said. prongs being normally inparallel relation to the first-named prongs, means for 4()simultaneously pivoting the last-namedprongs about said axes,meansactuated by movement of the housings in relation to each other formoving thepivoted prongs to their normal positions including a slide anda cam- 5 carrying member adapted to engage.

3 In a device of the class described, op-- posed housings hingedlyconnected together, a plurality of prongs positioned in one housing, aplurality of prongs mounted on vertical pivotal axes in the otherhousing and joined together forsimultaneous movement, said prongs beingnormally in parallel relation to the first-named prongs, means forsimultaneously pivoting the last-named prongs fi5- aboutsaid axes, meansactuated by movement of the housingsin relation to each other for movingthe pivoted prongs to their normal positions including a slide havingspaced v lugs positioned thereon, and a cam-carrying member coactingwith the lugs. V 4. In a device of the class described, opposed housingshingedly connected together,

a plurality of prongs positioned in one. housing, and joined togetherfor simultaneous T! movement, said prongs being'normally in parallelrelationto the first-named prongs, a'plurality of prongs mounted onvertical pivotal axes in the other housing, means'for' simultaneouslypivoting the last-named prongs about said axes, means actuated bymovement of the housings in relation to each other for moving thepivoted prongs to their normal positions including a slide having spacedlugs positioned thereon, a cam-car ried by each back member and normallyex-' tending parallel with each other, the prongsof each seriesextending in closed position of the book from one back member to theother back member, said series of prongs be ing relatively shiftable toand from overlapping position by movement of said back members aboutsaid hinge, means for shifting the prongs of one series angularly aboutvertical axes, and means operative upon movement of the back members toclose the book for automatically shifting the movable prongs to normalposition.

6. A loose leaf book comprising a pair of back members, a longitudinalhinge connecting said back members, series of prongs carried by eachback member and normally extending parallel with each other, the prongsof each series extending in closed position of the book from one backmember to the other back member, said series of prongs being relativelyshiftable to and from overlapping position by movement of said backmembers about said hinge, means for shifting the prongs of one seriesangularly about a vertical axis and means operative upon movement of theback members to close the book for automatically shifting the movableprongs to normal position.

7 A loose leaf book comprising a pair of back members, a longitudinalhinge connecting said back members, series of prongs carried by eachback member and normally extendingparallel with each other, the prongsof each series extending in closed position of the book from one backmember to the other back member and spaced apart a distance conformingto a plurality of spaced openings in a loose leaf adapted to be mountedon said prongs, said series of prongs shiftable to and from overlappingposition by movement of said back members about said hinge, means forshifting the prongs of one 8. -Aloose leafbook comprising a pair of backmembers, a longitudinal hinge connectingsaid back members, series ofprongs carriedby each back member and normally eX-I tending parallelwith each other, the prongs of each series extending in closed positionof the book from'one back member to the other back member and spacedapart a distance conforming to a plurality of spaced openings in a looseleaf adapted to be mount ed on said prongs, said series of prongsshiftable to and from overlapping position by movement of said backmembers, about said hinge, means for shifting the prongs of one seriesangularlyabout a vertical axis to bring the ends of the movable seriesof prongs into alignment with a difierent series of openings in looseleaves from those openings with which said rongs were normally, alignedto permit shifting of a sheet or sheets to a difterent position in thebook, and means open tive uponmovement of the back members to close thebook for automatically shi ting the movable prongs to normal position.

9. Ina device of the class described, op

posed back members hingedly connected to gether, a plurality of arcuateprongs positioned on each back member, a bell-crank pivotally mounted onone back member and a pusher bar having one end pivotally mounted on anarm of the bell-crank and having its other end adapted to Contact withthe other back member whereby the pivotal movement of the bell-crankwill cause the back members to move about their hinge. I

10. In a device of the class described, op-

posed housings hingedly connected together and each being provided attheir opposite ends with an end plate, a cover hingedly connected toeach housing, and a frame'positioned on an end plate of a housing andadapted to receive an indicia-carrying card.

11. In a device of the class described, opposed back members hingedlyconnected together, a plurality of arcuate prongs positioned on eachback member and normally in Larallel relation means for movin the prongson one back member obliquely in relation to the prongs on theother backmember, and means actuated by movementof the back members in relation toeach other for moving the movable prongs to their normal position.

12. In a de ice of the class described, opposed back members hingedlyconnected to,- gethor, a plurality of arcuate prongs positioned on eachback member and normally in parallel relation, means for simultaneouslyloving the prongs on one back member obliquely in relation to the prongson the other back member, and means actuated by movement of the backmembers in relation to each other for moving the movable prongs to theirnormal position.

13. In a device of the class described, opposed back members hingedlyconnected together, a plurality of arcuate prongs positioned on eachback member and normally in parallel relation, means for moving theprongs on one back member obliquelyin rela-- tion to the prongs on theother back member, and means actuated by movement of the back members inrelation to each other for moving the last-mentioned prongs to theirnormal position including a slide connectedto the movable prongs and acam-carrying member adapted to engage the slide.

14. In a device of the class described, opposed back inembershingedlyconnected together, a plurality of arcuate prongs positioned on eachback member and normally in parallel relation, means for simultaneouslymoving the prongs on one back member obliquely in relation to the prongson the.

other back member, and means actuated by movement of the back members inrelation to 1 each other for moving the last-mentioned prongs to theirnormal position including a slide connected to the movable prongs and va cam-carryingmemberadapted to engage the slide.

15. In a device of the class described, op

posed back membershingedly connected together, a plurality ofprongspositioned on one back membe'r, a plurality of prongs on the-other backmember,,means for movingthe last-mentioned prongs obliquely in relationto the prongs on the other back member, and

means actuated by movement of the back membersin relation to each otherfor moving the movable prongs to their normal position including a slidehaving spaced lugs posiother, means for moving one series of impalingprongsinto a position adapted to register with apertures in loose leavesdilferent from those with which they are normally adapted to register toeilect longitudinal shifting of the leaves with reference to each other,and means actuated by the movement of the series of impaling prongstowards each other for moving the movable prongsto the 25 7 normalposition.

'17 In a loose leaf binder adapted to containrecord leaves, two seriesof impaling prongs normally in parallel fixed spaced relation means formounting and guiding the series of impaling prongs-for movement towardsand from each other, means for moving one series of impaling prongs tobring their ends into a different spaced relation withregard to'theprongs of the other series, actuated by the movement of the series ofi'mpaling prongs towards each other for moving the movable prongs to thenor-' mal position.

18. A loose leaf binder adapted to contain w record leaves comprising apair of back members, a set of prongs mounted on each back member andextending substantially to the other back member in closed position ofthe book hin e means connectln the back morn- 3 23 bers to effectmovement of said sets of prongs to and from overlapping position, meanspermitting shifting of one of said sets of prongs in another directionto permit longitudinal shifting of leaves which the book is adapted tocontain, and means actuated by moving said back members about said hingein closing the book to return said set of prongs from said shiftedposition to original position.

19. Av loose leaf binder comprising opposed back members joined togetherfor relative movement, a latch secured to one back member, means on theother back member releasably engaging the latch, means engaging thelast-named means and adapted to move it out o of engagement with thelatch, and means for automatically elsengagmg the second-named meansfrom the first-named means when the first-named means has beendisengaged from the latch to permit its return to the engaging position.i

20. A loose leaf binder comprising opposed back members joined togetherfor relative movement, a latch secured to one back 46 member, a barslidably mounted on the other 21. A loose leaf binder comprising opposedback members joined together for relav.tive' movement, a latch securedto one back member, a bar shdably mounted on the other ackmember andadapted to engage the latch,

a shoulder on the bar means on the last-named back member for moving thebar out of engagement with the latch including a bell- 6'0bar, means forpivoting the first-named bellcrank pivotally mounted on such backmember,a second bell-crank pivotally mounted on the first-namedbell-crank and having one end adapted to engage the shoulder on thecrank with the other bell-crank engaging the bar, and means for pivotingthe second-named bell-crank whereby it will move out of engagement withthe bar when the'bar has been moved out of engagement with therlatch topermit the barto return to the engaging po-- tain record leaves, twoseries of impaling prongs, means for mounting and guiding the series ofimpaling prongs for movement away from each other to permit removal oraddition of record leaves, means mounting the impaling prongs of oneseries for angular movement to stagger their ends With respect to theimpaling prongs of the other series to effect longitudinal shifting ofsaid leaves with respect to each other, and means actuated by themovement of the series of impaling prongs towards each other for movingthe movable prongs to the normal angular position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of October1928.

' JOHN L. MoMILLAN.

